Hebron camp
Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, JAN 31 (NPN): Two factions of the NSCN – NSCN (I-M) and GPRN/NSCN Sunday observed the 30th Raising Day at their designated camps Hebron and Khehoi respectively.
Convener, Steering Committee, Qhevihe Chishi Swu graced the occasion as the chief guest at Hebron. Various prominent NGOs including those from Haflong, Tirap and Changlang attended the celebration.
The speech of Chairman, Isak Chishi Swu, which was read out by the chief guest, stated that the formation of the NSCN became inevitable after the people were ‘orphaned by the demise of NNC’ and asserted that the movement was based on truth.
The NSCN was formed on January 31, 1980 with Tonyu as the council headquarters.
Swu lauded the efforts of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) for their tireless efforts towards reconciling the various groups. He however said that since the reconciliation process was “highly political” it needed political approach. He affirmed that the NSCN would abide by the commitment made to the FNR.
Swu stated that the division of the Naga territories by British and subsequently by the government of India and Burma was the worst historical crime ever committed against the Nagas and called upon the Naga people to rectify the mistake and shape their future. “The political move of the long suppressed Naga people for integration is not only right but it is also a historical necessity” he asserted. He said integration was a political one.
Swu flayed the leaders in Delhi for not hammering out a solution to the Naga problem and added that the Indian leaders might bluff the Nagas but not the issue.
NSCN (I-M) general secretary, Th. Muivah, whose speech was also read out by the chief guest, stated “Naga nation existed, it exists and it will exist.”
He traced the formation of the NSCN after the NNC signed the Shillong Accord and terming it as “a total sellout of national rights” .
Muivah said the NSCN stood for principle based unity, peace and solution which should not be interpreted for rigidity and autocracy.
On the issue of all the groups coming under one roof for the current peace process with government of India, Muivah said it was an ‘anti-thesis’ of the ongoing talks as two separate entities. Muivah said “it is another form of ‘unity first political next’ as propagated by the adversaries of the Naga people.”
He if non-mandated group participated in the talks at the initiative of the union home ministry, it would only dilute what has been achieved in the talks at the level of the PM.
Muivah reiterated on integration of the Naga people under one political roof saying there was ‘absolutely no other option.’
Recounting 30 years of existence of the NSCN, emissary to the collective leadership “Lt. Gen (retd)” V. S. Atem said that it was always the forgiving nature of the Naga people for the mistakes and excess committed by the NSCN that have helped them a lot. Atem recalled that they were in China when they heard about the Shillong Accord on the radio and pointed out that late Phizo was mum on the entire issue and did not give direction to them or the Naga people. “NNC leader, they failed” he stated. He also said that their chairman, Isak was told at gunpoint not to talk about the Shillong Accord.
Admitting that there were some elements in their organization who were living on a luxurious lifestyle, Atem stated that the ‘culture of Boleros and culture of Maruti’ should be avoided at any cost.
Earlier, NSCN leader A. Z. Jami read out the speech of vice chairman Khodao Yanthan. Representatives from Naga Hoho, ENPO, ENSA, Chiefs Association (Tirap & Changlang), Nagaland Gurkha Association and Zeme Naga Council (Haflong) spokeat the programme.
Khehoi camp
In Khehoi, special envoy to the collective leadership GPRN/NSCN, Kughalu Mulatonu graced the programme held at the 2nd Brigade, Naga Army as the chief guest.
Mulatonu, who read out the speech of GPRN/NSCN chairman, S. S. Khaplang recalled the “triumphant day” of January 31, 1980, five year after the Shillong Accord of 1975, when the Naga revolutionaries kept up their commitment and took pledge to continue the struggle against occupational forces thus leading to the formation of the NSCN.
Khaplang stated that the formation of the NSCN was necessitated as its predecessor, NNC, which was then the political umbrella of the Nagas tried to betray the Nagas with the signing of Shillong Accord. “Under such appalling political situation, the need of the hour was a force capable of uprooting the milestone of stigma and protect the Naga homeland,” which was accomplished in 1980 with the formation of NSCN, he stated.
Khaplang urged every patriot to reaffirm the pledge and take up the “noblest yet imposing task of freeing ourselves from the yoke of myopia.”
The chairman said that the NSCN, in the pursuit for viable politics had spearheaded the concept and doctrine of unity and reconciliation to abstain from all negative politics.
Khaplang stated that the achievement of the FNR during the last two years, in association with various Naga frontal organizations were the brainchild of the NSCN’s unification. He stated that the GPRN/NSCN had boldly shouldered the national responsibility entrusted to it by the Naga people and that its support towards Naga unity and reconciliation, despite great setbacks, can be taken for granted.
Stating that the political principle of the NSCN was to protect the sovereignty of the Nagas, Khaplang said it was the same political right which could give wings to the idea of a genuine Naga nationhood.
“The NSCN does not pretend to preach politics but it, once again, commits to the Nagas what it has committed on 31 January 1980, which is sovereignty,” he stated.
“…our country, though not powerful, is never weak to submit to the occupational forces,” the GPRN/NSCN chairman added.
GPRN/NSCN “kilo kilonser,” Azheto Chophy in his speech recalled how the Naga national movement was started in 1918, the formation of the NSCN in 1980 and the split in 1988 which took place due to the seeds of disunity sown by India. He said the nomenclatures such as NSCN (I-M), NSCN (K) etc were the creation of the media and Naga NGOs for use in publication to make people understand who was saying what. Otherwise, the Naga struggle is still the same, he added.
With so much confusion owing to the existence of different Naga groups today, Azheto said the objective of observing raising day was to let people know that there is only one NSCN.
A silent prayer was observed in memory of those who lost their lives during the struggle for freedom since 1980. ‘Kilonsers’, ‘tatars’, secretaries, rank and file of the Naga Army etc attended the programme.